EP2681979B1 - Cooling device, in particular air-conditioning unit for a computer system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cooling device, in particular an air conditioning device for an electrical device, in particular a computer system, wherein the electrical device, in particular the computer system is housed in a closed space and the electrical device, in particular the computer system at least one frame, in particular a 19 "rack comprising that at least one electrical component, in particular a computer accommodates, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one evaporator, a compressor and a condenser.

• DE 34 36 407
• US 5 467 250
• DE 196 01 456
• DE 35 04 207
• DE 88 10 228
• EP 1 026 932

Electrical equipment, in particular computer systems generate heat during their operation. Computer systems are usually housed in a rack, in particular a 19 "rack or a switch or control cabinet.The switch or control cabinets contain cooling systems or air conditioning units, which serve the purpose of circulating the air in the control cabinet to cool it Cooling system according to the prior art is installed, for example, in the front wall or door or a side wall or in the base.

• DE 34 36 407
• US 5,467,250
• DE 196 01 456
• DE 35 04 207
• DE 88 10 228
• EP 1 026 932

The DE 34 36 407 shows an air conditioner that can be inserted into the interior of a cabinet. This has the disadvantage that there is little space in the interior of the cabinet for internals available.

From the US 5,467,250 a control cabinet has become known in which a heat exchanger is installed in the cabinet door.

The DE 196 01 456 shows an air-conditioned control cabinet with integrated into the door and / or in a wall panel air conditioner or heat exchanger, wherein the wall element or the cabinet door are formed as a housing for receiving the components of the air conditioner and / or the heat exchanger.

It is also known to install an air conditioner on the outside of a cabinet wall. Such an arrangement shows the DE 35 04 207 or even the DE 88 10 228 ,

The EP 1 026 932 shows a cabinet system that is constructed as a modular system and by installing different cooling or climate modules on existing mounting areas of the control cabinet different cooling systems allows to realize.

The EP 102 6 932 makes it possible to install cooling or air conditioning modules of different capacities and different technologies on the cabinet body as a first module in a prepared assembly area as required.

From the US 2009/080173 A1 a cooling system with an evaporator for a computer system has become known, wherein the evaporator coil of the evaporator is housed in the front door of the rack for the computer system.

US 2009/0154096 A1 also shows a cabinet, especially for a computer system, in which a vaporizer is arranged in a side wall of the cabinet.

From the US 5,896,922 B is a cooling plate for two cooling systems or two cooling systems become known, being cooled with the cooling systems or cooling electrical equipment, especially computer equipment.

The US Pat. No. 6,205,796 B shows a humidity control for electronic devices, which also includes a redundant cooling, in turn, a cooling plate is used.

A disadvantage of some of the systems described above, in which the cooling was done directly in the cabinet, was that the heat from the closed room was not dissipated, but only the cabinet was cooled and the heat generated during cooling, in particular the heat of the compressor and Condenser, was discharged into the closed space. As a result, the closed space was heated, and it had to be used additional cooling energy for the evaporator. Another disadvantage was that as a rule, water was used as a refrigerant, which led, in particular in the event of leakage, to the passage of liquid coolant into electrical devices, which caused short circuits in the electrical component, for example in the computers. Another problem was that the cooling systems were designed as single cooling systems, which meant that in case of failure of the cooling system, the computer system was uncooled, which in turn led to a shutdown of the computer equipment or electrical equipment when a single cooling system failed.

The object of the invention is thus to avoid the disadvantage of the prior art, in particular to provide an electrical device with a cooling device, with which it is possible to safely cool the electrical device. Furthermore, the cooling device should be accommodated in a closed space and in particular a failure of the cooling device can be avoided.

According to the invention the object is achieved by an electrical device, in particular a computer system, with an air conditioning device, in particular a computer system according to claim 1. The electrical device to be cooled, in particular the computer system is housed in a closed space and the electrical device, in particular computer system comprises at least one frame, in particular a 19 "rack that accommodates at least one electrical component, in particular a computer, wherein the cooling device at least one The device according to the invention is characterized in that the compressor and the condenser are arranged outside the closed space and the evaporator is arranged in the frame, in particular the 19 "rack and in a redundant design in the 19". Rack is running.

The evaporator is configured and arranged such that cooled air is provided at least on the electrical component, in particular the computer.

The redundant evaporator is designed in two parts comprising at least one separate piping each forming a partial evaporator.

According to the invention, the at least two partial evaporators are housed in a housing, wherein the housing is designed as a side wall of the frame or 19 "rack or at least as part of the side wall of the frame or 19" rack.

Due to the design of the evaporator in a redundant design with two Teilverdampfern housed in a housing in the rack or 19 "rack and having a piping in two separate circuits, it can be ensured that in case of failure of a part of the evaporator, for example because of excess temperature by switching a valve immediately the other separately formed tubing of the evaporator and thus the other part of the evaporator is activated, on the other hand can be achieved by housing in a housing directly in the rack or 19 "rack relative to a housing in individual housings significant material savings and a simplification of production become.

The evaporator, which is arranged inside the closed space, is set up in such a way that a very precise air guidance is provided in the rack or 19 "rack in which the electrical component is arranged The condenser and compressor together form an outdoor unit that is placed outside the enclosed space and therefore weatherproof.The outdoor unit is preferably designed for the refrigerant R410a, R407c, R134a.The outdoor unit is preferably based on the compressor and the condenser The design of the outdoor unit including condenser and compressor based on the speed technology allows demand-driven speed control of the compressor, which is then controlled by the electronic expansion valve and allows for energy input paring of up to 50%.

The energy saving is achieved, in particular, by setting the rotational speed of the compressor as a function of the cooling power required by the computer system and / or the enclosed space, for example to maintain temperature limits, ie. H. only the required amount of coolant is compressed.

The compressor of the outdoor unit is preferably designed as a double scroll compressor preferably silenced and has a very low power consumption at a very large power.

To achieve this, for example, the scroll compressor can have a speed control, which leads to a smooth and uniform compression with low noise level and low vibration during operation. Furthermore, a suction gas cooling, an internal engine protection and an internal oil management are provided.

In a preferred embodiment, the air cooled by the evaporator is provided via a heat exchanger on the electrical component.

Preferably, the cooled air is provided on at least one side wall of the rack, in particular the 19 "rack, The cooled air is then passed by the rack to the electrical component, thereby heating the air, The heated air is preferred, generally sucked on the back of the frame or 19 "rack by means of a blower device.

In order to avoid heat esters in the region of the electrical component, it is provided to guide the air with the aid of guide devices, for example with the aid of air guide surfaces. The guide surfaces are preferably arranged in the frame. Preferably, the condenser for liquefying the refrigerant is cooled with outside air, in particular by means of a fan. The refrigerant used is usually the refrigerant R410a, R407c or R134a.

• Raumtemperatur der Luft im geschlossenen Raum
• Außentemperatur außerhalb des geschlossenen Raumes
• Betriebszustand der Computeranlage, insbesondere Stromaufnahme der Computeranlage, Leistungsaufnahme der Computeranlage eine oder mehrere der nachfolgenden Einrichtung
• die Kühleinrichtung und/oder
• der Verdampfer und/oder
• das Gebläse und/oder
• den Verdichter und/oder
• den Ventilator

zu steuern und/oder zu regeln.Particularly preferably, the cooling device comprises at least two closed, separate refrigeration circuits with compressor, condenser and evaporator. Particularly preferably, the cooling device is provided with a regulating and / or control device, preferably in the form of a microprocessor. Such a configuration makes it possible, depending on one or more of the following control or control variables

• Room temperature of the air in a closed room
• Outside temperature outside the closed room
• Operating state of the computer system, in particular power consumption of the computer system, power consumption of the computer system one or more of the subsequent device
• the cooling device and / or
• the evaporator and / or
• the blower and / or
• the compressor and / or
• the fan

to control and / or to regulate.

Preferably, the outdoor unit comprising the compressor and condenser is the outdoor unit HKL40-91 of the company HKL, Gersfeld, Rhön with the following specifications: Performance range cooling 2-8kW Sound pressure level cooling 42dB (A) tension 230/1/50 Dimensions outdoor unit H / W / D 815/9095/320 mm refrigerant R 410a Injection line 10 mm suction 16 mm Operating range cooling -20 / 45 ° C

The evaporator, which is arranged in the frame or in the 19 "rack of the computer system, in order to further ensure cooling in a redundant design, forms two separate pipelines each having a partial evaporator the partial evaporator, for example, a side wall of the rack or 19 "rack is in which the computer system is housed. Preferably, two side walls of the frame are each configured with an evaporator in a redundant design. The one or more evaporators in redundant design gives the cooled air directly z. B. via fans in the interior of the frame and thus in particular the 19 "rack off.

The evaporator in a redundant design is preferably an evaporator HKL 5C from HKL, Gersfeld, Rhön with the following data: Cooling capacity min./max. 2-8 kW air exchange 3600 m ³ / h Application area Outdoor temperature cooling operation -20 ° C power supply 230/1/50 V / Ph / Hz Hedging, lethargic " 10 A Power consumption cooling 0.93 kW starting current 1.22A voltage feed switch cabinet Cable, infeed acc. VDE, at least ² 3x1.5 mm ²

Fig. 1a

den prinzipiellen Aufbau

Fig. 1b

Anordnung eines Verdampfers im Gestell beziehungsweies 19"-Rack

Fig. 2

den Aufbau eines in Fig. 1a-1b verwandten Verdampfers

Fig. 3a - 3c

den Aufbau eines Außengerätes in die rechte Seitenwand integrierten Verdampfers

Fig. 3d-3f

den Aufbau eines in die gegenüberliegende linke Seitenwand integrierten Verdampfers

The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the figures:
Show it:

Fig. 1a

the basic structure

Fig. 1b

Arrangement of an evaporator in the rack relies 19-inch rack

Fig. 2

building a in Fig. 1a-1b related evaporator

Fig. 3a - 3c

the construction of an outdoor unit in the right side wall integrated evaporator

Fig. 3d-3f

the structure of an integrated in the opposite left side wall evaporator

In Fig. 1 a is the basic structure of the electrical device according to the invention, in particular a computer system, with a cooling device 1 for an electrical device, in particular a computer system, which is arranged in an enclosed space 5, shown. The computer system (not shown) comprises a frame, 7 that in the present case is designed as a rack for receiving electrical components, in particular computers and is shown schematically. The cooling device 1 comprises an evaporator 20 in a redundant design as well as an external cooling device 22, which is arranged outside the enclosed space 5. The outdoor cooler 22 includes a compressor and a condenser (not shown). In the cooling device, a refrigerant is circulated, which is first compressed in the outdoor unit 22. The condensing refrigerant is conveyed by the outdoor cooling device 22 via line 24.1, 24.2 to the evaporator 20. In the evaporator 20, the refrigerant expands.

In the present embodiment, the entire cooling device 1 is redundant and therefore includes two separate cooling circuits, each cooling circuit has its own outdoor cooling device 22.1, 22.2, and its own supply line 24.1, 24.2 to the evaporator 20 and 26.1 own derivatives of the evaporator. The evaporator 22 itself is also redundant and has two independent separate piping resulting in each case a partial evaporator, each partial evaporator is assigned to each one of the two separate cooling circuits.

As shown, the partial evaporator housed in a housing 1000 with four fans 1002.1,1000.2, 1000.3, 1000.4, wherein the housing with the two partial evaporators part of the side wall of the frame or 19 "rack is.

In the embodiment of an evaporator 20 in a redundant embodiment, which is directly installed in the control cabinet or in the rack, or in the 19 "rack, the partial evaporators are arranged one above the other in order to allow the flatest possible construction Fig. 1a represented, likewise is in Fig. 1a to recognize the back 2020 of the cabinet 7. Executed in detail is a single evaporator part both in a left and right-side stopper shape in the Fig. 3a-3f ,

It is also possible, instead of a redundant evaporator in the control cabinet or rack or 19 "rack, to provide a plurality of redundant evaporators, for example on opposite side walls (not shown).

It would also be conceivable not to run the entire cooling system redundant with two cooling circuits, but only the evaporator with two partial evaporators. This embodiment, not shown, would include only one outdoor cooler 22 and a cooling circuit, which is split in the evaporator 20 in redundant design of the evaporator in two partial circuits, the de partial circuits are switched by a switching valve in the entire cooling circuit of the cooling device. If a partial evaporator fails in such a cooling device, the switching valve is actuated and the other partial evaporator is switched into the cooling circuit. Although this embodiment does not have the high reliability of a system with two outdoor refrigerators and two completely separate cooling circuits as in Fig. 1a illustrated Embodiment on, but redundancy in the evaporator. Conceivable, although not shown, are cooling systems with more than two cooling circuits.

In general, the functioning of the refrigeration device is such that the refrigerant is released in the evaporator 22. The expansion of the refrigerant causes cooling due to the Joule Thompson effect. The expanded cooled gas is passed via line 26 to the compressor 22, recompressed and expanded at the evaporator to produce cold. The refrigeration by means of a compression refrigeration machine is well known to the skilled person. In this regard, for example, on the Textbook Gerthsen-Kneser-Vogel; "Physics", 13th edition, pp. 221-224 , referenced.

According to the invention, the evaporator is designed and arranged such that the cooled air is provided on the electrical component here on the computer. By means of air baffles (not shown), the cooled air is passed by the evaporator to the electrical component and thereby heated. As a result, in turn, the electrical component is cooled. On the opposite side of the evaporator blower means (not shown) may be provided, with which the air heated by the electrical component is discharged into the closed space. The air flow from the evaporator through the rack or 19 "rack is designated 40.

The enclosed space is heated in the embodiment according to the invention with external cooling system only by the waste heat of the computer system, but not by the heat generated during compression of the refrigerant, since the compressor is arranged according to the invention in an outdoor cooling system 22. In this way, the closed space is significantly relieved of heat input, in contrast to devices in which the air conditioning with all its components such as in the EP 1 026 932 described in the cabinet or the frame or 19 "rack are arranged.

In FIG. 1b the arrangement of the evaporator 20 in the rack or 19 "rack 7 for the computer system 9 is shown in redundant form in an enclosed space 5. The computer system 9 is accommodated in the control cabinet 7 or rack The computer system 9 comprises on at least one side wall 2000 an evaporator 20. Air is sucked in via the side wall 13.1 of the evaporator, cooled in the evaporator 20 and conveyed to the respective computer system 9 by means of fans and guiding devices as indicated by arrows 40.

In FIG. 2 the evaporator 20 is shown again in detail. The evaporator 20 has in the illustrated embodiment, without being limited thereto, a cooling capacity of 8 kW and is redundant, ie it has 2 redundantly interconnected partial evaporator, which are installed in one and the same housing, but each individual, separate piping having.

The piping of a partial evaporator can in particular the Fig. 3a-3f be removed.

In Fig. 2 On the other hand, in particular, the common housing 1000 of the evaporator 20 is shown. In the common housing 1000 13.1 openings for sucking the gaseous medium, in particular air are provided on the front side wall. The suction of air is accomplished in particular by means of fans - in the present embodiment, four fans 1002.1, 1002.2, 1002.3 1002.4, -, which are arranged on the side wall 13.2 of the housing. The cooling of the sucked air is provided by an evaporator block comprising two partial evaporators with separate piping.

The details of the partial evaporators included in the housing 1000 of the evaporator 20 in redundant form are detailed in FIGS FIGS. 3a-3f shown and Although for a right-side partial evaporator in the Fig. 3a-3c and for a left-side partial evaporator in the Fig. 3d-3f ,

FIG. 3a 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a right-side partial evaporator 3000. The right-side partial evaporator 3000 comprises a very shallow piping 1100 with an inlet 1110 and a drain 1120 for the refrigerant. This is clearly in the side view FIG. 3b and the front view in Figure 3c shown. In FIG. 3b the supply line is 1110 for piping 1100 and the drain 1120. Two partial evaporators 3000, as individually in the Fig. 3a-3c or 3d-3f are shown, according to the invention in a housing 1000, as in Fig. 1a respectively. Fig. 2 integrated, resulting in the redundant evaporator, which is then again arranged in a rack or 19 "rack, for example in a side wall.For this purpose, it is advantageous if the relatively narrow part evaporator, as in the Fig. 3a-3f shown in the housing are arranged one above the other.

In Fig. 3d-3f is a on a Teilerdampfer in Fig. 3a-3c opposite stop shown. Here, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3a-3c related and Fig. 3d corresponds to the 3-dimensional view, Fig. 3e the side view and Fig. 3f the front view.

In addition to the evaporator, the cooling device 1 comprises an outdoor unit 22, which is installed in a weatherproof housing. The outdoor unit 22 (in FIG. 1a ) is designed for the use of the refrigerant R410a, R407c and R134a with a special speed technology, by which the operating costs can be significantly reduced because they allow a demand-driven speed control of the compressor, preferably depending on parameters such as indoor temperature and / or outdoor temperature with the help a regulation. As a compressor comes in the outdoor unit, for example, a sound-damped double roller compressor used. Furthermore, the outdoor refrigerator 22 (in FIG. 1 a) a condenser that is air-cooled for liquefaction, such as refrigerant R410a. The condenser consists of a copper tube with powerful aluminum fins. The air-cooled condenser is easy to clean without Housing parts must be removed. To dissipate the heat from the condenser or compressor, the outdoor unit 22 comprises an axial fan made of heat-resistant plastic. This ensures that vibration noises can occur only to a small extent. The plastic injection molding process for the production of axial fan made of heat-resistant plastic, an ideal profiling can be achieved in order to achieve the most linear and constant flow through the fan.

It is particularly preferred if the device according to the invention has a control device which is in Fig. 1a designated 200 is included. With the aid of sensors, for example, the temperature of the air in the closed space 5 or the operating state of the computer system 9 is determined. This measurement signal is then transmitted to the control / regulation device 200. Depending on these control or control variables, the outdoor unit 22 with compressor or condenser and / or the evaporator 20 is then controlled, in particular the speed of the compressor in the outdoor unit is controlled. By regulating or controlling by means of the control device, the cooling system can be operated very energy efficient. Furthermore, operating states can be reliably diagnosed and a test mode can be carried out.

With the invention, for the first time an evaporator in redundant design, which is housed in a housing in the power range 1-10 kW, preferably 2-8 kW, in particular for a cooling device, in particular an air conditioning device specified so that without interruption cooling in a closed Room set up electrical facilities, especially computer equipment is ensured. By accommodating in a housing can be significantly reduced material and in particular costs. The evaporator is placed directly in a space-saving rack or rack that receives the computer.

Claims (8)

1. An electrical device, especially a computer installation, wherein the electrical device, and the computer installation in particular, is housed in a closed or enclosed space (5), and the electrical device, and the computer installation in particular, comprises at least one rack (7), especially a 19" rack, which accommodates at least one electrical component, especially a computer (9), with a cooling device, especially an air-conditioning device, wherein the cooling device comprises at least one evaporator (20), one compressor and one condenser, and the compressor and the condenser are arranged outside of the closed or enclosed space preferably in an external unit (22, 22.1, 22.2), characterized in that

   - the evaporator (20) is arranged within the frame (7), preferably in a side wall (2000), and the evaporator (20) is arranged in redundant configuration in a single housing (1000);

   - the cooling device comprises at least two separate closed cooling circuits with separate feed lines (24.1, 24.2) to the evaporator (20) and separates discharge lines (26.1, 26.2) from the evaporator;

   - the evaporator (20) comprises two independent separate pipe works (1100), resulting in one partial evaporator (3000) each, wherein each partial evaporator (3000) is respectively assigned to one of the two separate cooling circuits;

   - the at least two partial evaporators (3000) are housed in a housing (1000), wherein the housing (1000) is arranged at least as a part of the side wall (2000) of the rack, and

   - air is sucked in via a side wall (131) of the evaporator (20), cooled in the evaporator (20), and conveyed by means of fans and guide devices to the respective electrical device, especially the computer installation (9).
2. An electrical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling device comprises at least two external units (22.1, 22.2) which are respectively assigned to a cooling circuit (24.1, 24.2).
3. An electrical device according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the condenser comprises:

   - an axial fan, preferably with a wire mesh console, especially in corrosion-proof water-tight configuration;

   - a heat exchanger, especially with aluminium fins which are preferably pressed onto said heat exchanger;

   - a speed controller for the axial fan, preferably controlled and arranged in the condensate line.
4. An electrical device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cooling device comprises at least two electronic expansion valves, preferably with pressure transmitter and temperature sensor.
5. An electrical device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the compressor comprises at least two scroll compressors.
6. An electrical device according to claim 5, characterized in that the scroll compressor is a speed-controlled compressor for compressing a refrigerant.
7. An electrical device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cooling device comprises an open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (200), preferably a microprocessor.
8. An electrical device according to claim 7, characterized in that the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (200) controls and/or regulates one or several of the following devices:

   - the blower;

   - the evaporator;

   - the condenser;

   - the fan;
   depending on one or several of the following control/regulating quantities of

   - the room temperature in the enclosed space;

   - the external temperature outside of the enclosed space;

   - the operating state of the computer installation, especially the current consumption of the computer installation, the power consumption of the computer installation.

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